Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones criticised the proposed arch, describing it as an affront to Arlington National Cemetery and the sacrifices commemorated there. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
\n\nWashington, DC, and the state of Virginia have sued the US National Park Service and the Interior Department to block President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch, arguing that the project is unlawful because it lacks congressional authorisation.
\n\nThe lawsuit, filed on Saturday, challenges plans to construct a monumental arch on the border between Washington, DC, and Virginia, resembling famous structures such as Paris’s Arc de Triomphe. The proposed location is near Arlington National Cemetery.
\n\nThe plaintiffs described the project as “flagrantly unlawful”, accusing the Trump administration of failing to comply with legal requirements before moving forward with construction.
\n\n“In their rush to break ground on the Arch, Defendants have made only half-hearted gestures at complying with these requirements,” the lawsuit states. “Perhaps recognizing that the project is legally indefensible, Defendants have made clear that they will attempt to outrun judicial review.”
\n\nThe lawsuit argues that the administration could begin construction before courts have fully considered the legal challenges, potentially making it more difficult to halt the project later.
\n\n“It is entirely foreseeable that, once…
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/world
